vein surgery | Day With KT

For my 43 today, I did more leg work (and a bit of core since there was a high level of balance involved!). I used my stability ball: (not the BOSU – it was just in the picture!!)I started with one foot on the ball – knee bent:

Then I did a single leg squat and slid the ball out in front of me:

And, like so many of the 43s in the past, this was a double because I want both of my legs to get equal treatment!!!

Another day of Insanity Asylum – Back to Core. Since this is my first time through the program I didn’t know what to expect from this workout – now I know that it is a LOT of controlled moves and holds!!! My upper back will be sore tomorrow for sure!!! The only equipment needed for this workout is a little band – Good times!!!

I decided to get in a little run today since this workout didn’t have much cardio (and I’ve been in a bit of a running slump) – I ran on the treadmill since it is STILL raining here! 1.5% incline – 4 miles in 30:54 + 0.25 mile cooldown

Not sure what the deal is with running lately – not super motivated. I’m trying to cut myself a little slack and push harder with other things because I don’t want running to ever become something that I dread!!Thankfully, I don’t hate running but I’m not loving it at the moment either – I have a small idea of what the problem might be. (coming up…..)

So, it has been 5 weeks since this lovely picture (the day after I had my veins stripped):

I thought I would just do a short follow up (no gross pictures today!!!) with my thoughts on the surgery. I’ve already talked about the fact that my DR completely misinformed me by not telling me all the possible results and how long the recovery could take.

Now, it has been 5 weeks and I can do all of my normal activities so that is definitely a good thing. The downside – my legs have hurt every second of the past 5 weeks!!! They don’t hurt as bad now as they did the first couple of weeks but I have a few areas on both legs that HURT all the time.

My left ankle has a huge knot right under the bone on the inside that causes my ankle to stay swollen and ache all the time.

My right calf, while better than it was the first couple of weeks, still has a knot in it.

right calk — right calf – hard to tell much

And, my right upper thigh is just a mess – little knots all over.

I have regretted having this surgery almost since the minute I got home from the hospital and I’m still not at the point where I’m glad I had it done!!! I’m hoping that maybe in a few more weeks I will at least be happy with the results but for now all it’s done is cause me a lot of pain.

And, that pain (while definitely manageable) is what I think has caused my little running slump!!! Every time I run now my legs feel like this:I keep telling myself that the DR said I can’t hurt anything so I try to ignore it but it is a joy sapper for sure!!!

Well, what I meant to be an update, came out sounding like a lot of whining! I’m done with that now because I know that I’m lucky to be able to work out and do all the things I want to do!!!

Oh, and I’m very happy that I know longer need any wraps or nasty compression stockings!! The DR said to wear them at least for a month – DONE!!!

But I’m still going on record as saying – I, personally, don’t recommend this particular surgery and if I had it to do again, I would not do it!!

Happy Thursday!!!

Kim

Today’s 43 was another one for my core. I did a V-sit crunch.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGZsdypMM_M’]

I feel like the past 2 weeks my abs have really been neglected!! This was a good 43 – my legs (hip flexors mainly) were tired by the time I completed all 43.

I’m going to vent (meaning I’m going to rant and let out all of my frustrations) about yesterday and then I’m going to ~~try to~~ move on!

Yesterday morning I called my DR (again). My right calf is still very swollen, hard and painful and my left ankle has joined in on the fun! Since the doctor had assured me (every single time I asked her) that I would be running by now (almost 2 weeks after surgery) and I can barely walk I need some answers!

When the nurse called back I said:

She was super nice and assured me that I wasn’t a being a pain and that I was right to call. They wanted to see me but I would have to see a different DR (mine was unavailable). The DR I met also does the same type surgeries.

So, when the DR came in the room and looked at my legs he said – well, yep.

He then proceeded to explain that vein stripping used to be comparable to medieval torture devices.

He went into considerable detail about how it used to be with removing the vein and the bleeding involved – blah, blah, blah (I’m going to spare you the gorey details!).

But, thanks to modern technology, the technique has become much improved – MOST OF THE TIME!

Even with the newer method of vein stripping (removal of greater saphenous vein – in left leg), ligation (veins tied off ) and phlebectomy (removal of superficial veins through small slit-like incisions in skin – reason I have little cuts all over my legs) some people still have the same recovery problems that the older surgery caused.

By recovery problems he was referring to the massive amounts of bruising, swelling and hard lump-like spots in my legs. (and pain)

He went on to say that this only happens a very small percent of the time – and that it hadn’t happened to any of his patients to date.

All well and good but – How come no one told me that before I had this done???

Of course, I asked exactly what that means in terms of recovery time – he said it could be as long as 6 weeks of keeping my legs elevated as much as possible and just minimal walking around to keep the blood flowing!

Remember, I asked my DR numerous times on both of the visits I had with her before surgery – How long will I have to take off running? Every time she said probably about a week. Not once did she think to mention that – Oh, by the way, occasionally (rarely) people have complications and it can be up to 6 weeks!!!

So, I had to cancel the sub-jobs that I had for this week and resign myself to a few more weeks of relatively little activity.

There might have been a few tearsand maybe a few curse words (not at the doctor’s office!)and there was definitely a margarita to drink!!

Would I have done the surgery if I knew there was a chance (however slim) that the recovery could be very long and painful instead of just the week that I was expecting? I don’t know but I feel like I should have been informed so that if when it happened I would be prepared – both physically and mentally.

So now I’m going to suck it up and do what I have to do from this point on to heal. I know that whining and complaining isn’t going to help anything but I had to get it all off my chest!!!

I know that in the big picture, this is nothing. It could be so much worse.

So, I’m going to enjoy the sunshine – my big outing for the day is to cover 1st grade recess so that the teacher’s can have a longer lunch and well-deserved break for Teacher Appreciation – and stop complaining!

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

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